One of the most common questions dog owners have is whether or not it’s safe to give their pup a T-bone steak and if steak bones are good for canine friends?
While it may seem like a tasty treat, there are a few things to consider before feeding your dog this type of meat.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the answer to this question and provide some helpful tips on how to keep your dog safe when enjoying a T-bone steak.
While it’s usually okay for dogs to have the occasional piece of steak, t-bone steak, in particular, can pose a very serious threat. The main problem with this type of steak is that it has a bone in it. When you cook the meat, the bone turns brittle and prone to splintering.
This means that when your dog eats the steak, it is very likely that pieces of the cooked or raw bone will break off and cut their mouth. If your dog swallows any of these pieces of bone, they could puncture its intestines and cause internal bleeding.
Dogs love chewing bones but if their mouth gets cut up by bone splinters, the wounds in the mouth and throat could become infected. This turns a bad situation into something much worse. A bacterial infection of the mouth or even stomach lining can be fatal without immediate treatment.
Be Aware of Your Dog’s Teeth Health
Before feeding a steak bone to your dog, check with the vet to make sure your dog’s teeth and gums are in good health. Steak bones are strong, and they’ll put a lot of wear and tear on a dog’s teeth. If your dog shows any signs of gum disease or brittle teeth, it’s probably best to stay away from steak bones.
Does your dog gnaw on a bone like they haven’t eaten in three days? Hint: Most will if they haven’t eaten a meal recently. It’s a good idea to feed your dog a full meal before giving them a steak bone to prevent them from chowing down aggressively on the bone. They’ll feel fuller and will be less likely to try to eat the bone whole.
A steak bone should always be larger than the mouth of the dog you’re feeding it to. Dogs eating too-small bones run the risk of accidentally swallowing it, which can lead to choking or a digestive obstruction. A good rule of thumb is to feed a bone that’s longer than the dog’s muzzle.
Steak bones can get a buildup of bacteria from the raw meat that was once on them. It’s best to store them in the refrigerator when your dog isn’t chewing them and only allow your dog to chew for 15 minutes maximum to avoid bacteria spreading at room temperature. After three or four days, throw the bone away.
Are Steak Bones Safe for Dogs?
Just because something looks tasty doesn’t mean it’s safe to eat. Such can be the case with steak bones — but don’t count them out of your dog’s diet just yet.
When given raw, steak bones can be okay for dogs to eat, as long as your dog has a clean bill of health from its veterinarian and excellent dental health. Also, your dog should have some self-control when it comes to chewing rather than one that tries to shred and swallow everything that goes in their mouth.
Raw steak bones are the better option than cooked steak bones because they don’t splinter as easily. A raw steak bone is stronger, so your dog can chew on it for hours and probably never break a piece off, but a cooked bone can break apart more easily.
With that said, there’s no definitive answer here. Some experts believe steak bones are okay to give once in a while, while others always advise against feeding dogs bones because of the risks that come with them. For instance, raw bones risk being contaminated with bacteria, and some strong chewers could still break off pieces that can damage their teeth and digestive system.
Therefore, it’s always best to check with your veterinarian before feeding your dog any steak bones. Your vet completes thorough examinations on your dog and knows its medical history and breed health risks, allowing them to make a more informed decision for your specific pup.
What to do if your dog eats a cooked steak bone
No matter how vigilant we are, our dogs can get into things that they shouldn’t. If your dog has gotten into leftover cooked steak bones, you need to monitor them. The first step is to check their mouth for splintered bone fragments and if their breathing is labored. If your dog has labored breathing, you may need to do the Heimlich maneuver to clear your dog’s airway.
After confirming that there are no leftover pieces of bone in your dog’s possession, check the area and pick up any remaining pieces.
Ingesting cooked steak bones is a situation where you should err on the side of caution. The damage can not be immediately clear and your dog’s condition can turn serious very quickly. Contact you, they will ask you questions about the size of the bones and your dog’s condition. They can advise you if your dog needs to be taken to an emergency vet. Your dog may need emergency surgery.